Cadets taking the time to pose for a picture with their classmates. Photo courtesy of the Golden Buffalo Battalion.
The annual Military Ball for the Army ROTC Golden Buffalo Battalion was held again at the Omni Interlocken Hotel in Broomfield. Cadets and Cadre/Staff alike came together to celebrate another successful year.
The event went through all of the traditional formalities that make the Military Ball a yearly institution. The evening started off with the AROTC Color Guard posted the colors, brief opening comments from the current PMS, then all eyes were on the empty table to honor all soldiers missing in action or prisoners of war, followed by the Invocation, and finally the Grog Bowl was mixed by the Cadets with ingredients that represented the rich history and current travails of the Golden Buffalo Battalion.
Awarding of the Essayons Scholarship. Pictured from left to right: 2022 winner Cadet Richard Jung, Cadet Samuel Harber, LTC Lynae Place, and MSG Josh Nearhoof. Photo courtesy of the Golden Buffalo Battalion.
The meals were served, and attendees enjoyed their dinners and talked amongst themselves. This year’s guest speaker was Mr. Kevin Ruelas, an AROTC commissionee from Fresno State and current owner and CEO of Defense & Government Solutions (DGS) which focuses on defense services.
The Cadre then recognized the individual Cadets selected for the internal scholarships and awards. Cadets from the entire battalion were selected for the following scholarships/awards:
1. American Spirit Award, SGM Anderson – CDT Willian Vlad from the University of Colorado Boulder
2. Baer Scholarship – CDT Rhys Gerboth from the University of Colorado Boulder
3. Fertig Leadership Scholarship – CDT Rachel Castro from the Colorado School of Mines
4. Brian and Debra Crew Scholarship – (MSIV) CDT Brooke Hawkins and CDT Kyerra Sylva, both from the University of Denver;(MSIII) Cadet Emanuel Walker from Metro State University of Denver and Cadet Jessica Stanfill from the University of Denver; (MSII) Cadet Brian Von Buhr from Metro State University of Denver
5. Essayons Scholarship – CDT Samuel Harber from the Colorado School of Mines
6. Rippetoe Scholarship & Sword/Scabbard – CDT Samuel Patti from the University of Colorado Boulder
The Cadets that were designated by Army Cadet Command as a “Distinguished Military Graduate” are as follows:
CDT Peter Buckingham from Colorado Christian University
CDT Brooke Hawkins from the University of Denver
CDT Rahul Khanal from the University of Colorado Denver
CDT Benjamin Morehart from the University of Colorado Boulder
CDT Sydney Tanner from the University of Denver
This distinction is based on GPA, AROTC class/event participation and overall ranking within AROTC.
The Cadets that were designated by the Golden Buffalo Battalion Professor of Military Science as a “Distinguished Military Student” are as follows:
CDT Peter Buckingham from Colorado Christian University
CDT Nathan Chrisman from the University of Colorado Boulder
CDT Jack Dobrotka from Colorado Christian University
CDT Brooke Hawkins from the University of Denver
CDT Rahul Khanal from the University of Colorado Denver
CDT Adali Matz from the Colorado School of Mines
CDT Benjamin Morehart from the University of Colorado Boulder
CDT Scott Smith from the University of Colorado Boulder
CDT Sydney Tanner from the University of Denver
CDT William Vlad from the University of Colorado Boulder
This distinction is based on their ranking as the top 25% of all AROTC Cadets.
The Superior Cadets for 2024 were:
MSI class – CDT Chance McDonald from the University of Colorado Boulder
MSII class – CDT Kyle Grote from the Colorado School of Mines
MSIII class – CDT Jessica Stanfill from the University of Denver
MSIV class – CDT Cody Kidd from the University of Colorado Denver
Then all MSIV Cadets graduating in the spring were introduced along with the branch they are designated to go into. The evening culminated with the Benediction and retiring of the colors.
Army ROTC Color Guard retiring of the colors on the event stage. Photo courtesy of the Golden Buffalo Battalion.